Fjordman on the Myth of Islamic Civilization
Part one and part two . As Robert Spencer points out, most of the "advances" and "greatness" of Islamic civilization were either stolen from conquered peoples or made up by Western multiculturalists. Ultimately, Islam is a self-limiting problem exacerbated by advances in Western medicine that are transfered to Muslim countries. In other words, the reason the Islamic Umma has grown to such a size over the past century is that Western countries have helped it to grow by extending expected lifespans in Muslim countries and lowering the infant mortality rates. If there's no longer a West to coddle the Umma, it will be unable to take care of itself, as in the past.
Some might raise the objection, "What about the Ottoman empire?" I would respond that the Ottomans granted semi-autonomous rule to their various dhimmi communities. They therefore had a large enough percentage of non-Muslims in their society to keep it going until Ataturk wiped out or drove out the remaining 1.25 million Greeks and over a million Armenians in the early part of the 20th century. Turkey's relatively recent successes are likely to be erased by the increasingly powerful Islamists in that country.
PRCalDude
Part 3 is up. Here's an excerpt:
Author V.S. Naipaul thinks Islam is parasitical by nature and preys upon the pre-Islamic culture in the conquered lands. I will add that it is also the kind of parasite which kills its host. I have no doubt that if Muslims should succeed in conquering Europe, this will in the future be hailed as a Golden Age of Islam. But it wouldn't be a Golden Age of Islam, it would be the twilight of Europe, just as the previous Golden Age was the twilight of the Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Zoroastrian and Buddhist cultures from North Africa to Central Asia, and the much vaunted accomplishments of "Islamic medieval science" were echoes of the heritage of Egyptians, Babylonians, Persians, Syrians and Greeks.
Yes, I know Mughal emperors could create magnificent architecture such as the Taj Mahal in India, but this was still a slave-state based upon the exploitation and persecution of non-Muslims. And yes, there can be rulers such as Akbar the Great, with his religious tolerance and imperial garden with thousands of cheetahs, but he was tolerant precisely because he was a Muslim in name only. Any such ruler will be succeeded by more pious Muslims, as was the case with Aurangzeb who reinstated the Jizya tax for infidels and destroyed Hindu temples. Anything good that happens in countries under Islamic rule generally happens in spite of Islam, not because of Islam, and the good parts will soon be reversed in the name of sharia. There will always be at least a dozen Aurangzebs to every Akbar.
We are currently witnessing major global shifts in power. In a macrohistorical perspective, China was the leading civilization a millennium ago but was surpassed by Europe. I firmly believe free speech and political liberty have long-term effects, and I'm not convinced China can keep up her economic progress unless she undertakes reforms. I'm also not convinced Europe's Islamization is inevitable, yet, but if present trends continue, maybe we will see a reversal of roles in the twenty-first century: China will prosper and Europe will disintegrate. In the meantime, however, when Muslims get their hands on Western technology and Europe's accumulated wealth, the world from Britain to Thailand could be plunged into a new age of Jihad.
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Reader Comments (4)
If we look at Middle Eastern culture in general, there are a number of historicaly siginficant contributions to civilization.
However, if we look at Islamic specific contributions within the greater scheme there really are not that many. The greatest contribution of Islam on world culture is the mindset and justification to conquer and subjugate on a global scale.
So, if we want to bring the globe under a one world government (or one world order), joining the Islamic movement to conquer the globe is a good place to start.
The pig/dog Jew and infidel medicines must never, inshallah, be allowed pollute the blood of the children of Allah (pboh). Islam is pure and Allah (pboh) will protect from sickness those who fight the jihad against the imperial infidel West. We must fight against those who seek for Islam to submit to western/Jew medicine.
Here's one for you, Ishmael:
11 The angel of the LORD also said to her:
"You are now with child
and you will have a son.
You shall name him Ishmael,
for the LORD has heard of your misery.
12 He will be a wild donkey of a man;
his hand will be against everyone
and everyone's hand against him,
and he will live in hostility
toward all his brothers."
Haven't you guys already submitted to "Western/jew" medicine? Where are the accomplishments of Muslims in the Medical field? Oh, that's right, there aren't any, and there haven't been any for roughly 800 years.
Other than death, destruction and subjugation, how exactly is it that Islam offers to benefit us?
What exactly does Islam give the Muslim countries in the Middle East and North Africa? Justified slavery of infidels, justified genocide of Jews and Infidels, women treated as chattel and sex slaves for the most part. 17th century economic depression, starvation, and medical care only for the wealthy. Educational systems that ban girls and train boys to be suicidal bombers.
I could go on.
So, what again does Islam offer me that is in any way attractive? 72 virgins if I blow myself up while trying to commit murder? Oooh... yeah, that's certainly attractive. Not.